Plans to convert Wellingborough B&B into several new flats and two HMOs approved

The Oak House Hotel is currently operating as a 14-bed hotel which stretches across three adjoining buildings in Broad Green, Wellingborough.

However, the B&B is now set to swap its short-stay guests for more permanent residents.

North Northants Council (NNC) has given the green light to three separate planning applications which detailed proposals to section off the different areas of the hotel and bring them into residential use.

In total, the number of bedrooms across the properties will rise to 16 and kitchen and communal/living space will also be added. Limited changes will be made to the exterior of the building and the street frontage will stay the same according to plans.

The left-most building at 8 Broad Green will form the first proposed HMO, offering five bedrooms. The second part of the residential transformation project will involve 9 Broad Green, which currently makes up the hotel entrance, bar/seating area and kitchen. It will be converted into two self-contained studio flats.

The third building at 10 Broad Green is the largest and will be split into a two-bed studio apartment and a seven-bed HMO. All bedrooms across the three properties will have their own en-suite bathrooms.

Tenants will be able to use the parking spaces currently provided at the back of the building. On-street parking is also available directly outside the B&B and extends further down the street, which the council has said will be ‘sufficient’.

Wellingborough Town Council raised concerns over the loss of the hotel as there are very few in the town to use, but ultimately didn’t submit an objection.

NNC planning officers first granted permission for the two self-contained studio flats in August, with approval for the two HMO applications being issued in October.